Adding a second Hard Drive to a computer

Mephisto · #1 January 3rd, 2003, 11:47 AM

Mmm, it all depends how old your 40GB harddisk is. When i is quite new then the speed difference might not be that great to your 60GB harddisk. To reach maximum security, you can do this:
1.) Install your 60GB HD as your secondary drive (usually D

.
2.) Put all your "Your Files"-Folder on D:, especially your Email and Address-Data (bad memories

).
3.) Backup these files regularly to C:
4.) Once in a while (4 weeks or so) make a disk-image from C: to D:.

In the case that C: goes bye-bye, you can restore your system with all the data in less then 20 minutes to the point of the Last disk-image. This has saved my bud several times now.

Gryphin · #2 January 3rd, 2003, 01:46 PM

Depending on your options:
Use a CD R to back up your data.
Have copies of your data at a friends house and at work. (I'm paranoid).
Use the 60 as your Main drive because it is newer and more relyable. It might also be faster.

rdouglass · #3 January 3rd, 2003, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gryphin:
..Use the 60 as your Main drive because it is newer and more relyable...

From personal experience, a dangerous assumption... I've been bitten before by assuming the new drive was going to run as long as my old drive...Lasted 3 days...

The CDR solution (at least when it comes to personal backup) IMO is a relatively quick and inexpensive solution. At about $.20 US per CD (640Mb), it doesn't take a whole lot of expensive media. Once you get a good backup, just do daily incrememtal backups.

Business solutions are an entirely different story...

Thermodyne · #4 January 3rd, 2003, 03:49 PM

There are some more or less standard solutions, but they all depend on what operating system you are running. As Rdouglass has already posted, backing up to removable media is your best solution. If you take the time to do the back ups, and do a test restore once and a while, they are very reliable. Disk images are OK, but it would take a lot of time to do on a daily basis. If you want on the fly protection, then you need to set up a mirror; just remember that they need to be backed up too. In short, backing up to a second drive is not really a reliable back up, it only protects against the failure of the primary drive. If I remove IBM hard drives from the equation, main Boards fail more often then hard drives on the average home computers I service. And there is one very popular chipset in wide use that is becoming notorious for corrupting data written to the hard drive if default bios settings are used.

DarkHorse · #5 January 3rd, 2003, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thermodyne:
... And there is one very popular chipset in wide use that is becoming notorious for corrupting data written to the hard drive if default bios settings are used.

Which chipset are you referring to?

geoschmo · #6 January 3rd, 2003, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Thermodyne:
If I remove IBM hard drives from the equation, main Boards fail more often then hard drives on the average home computers I service.

Don't I know it.

Gryphin · #7 January 3rd, 2003, 06:18 PM

rdouglass is right about the relyablity issue.
Over all I'd say,
Prepare the 60 to be hooked up on a moments notice and store it in a safe place.
Make daily, (or when ever needed), backups to a CD R.
Store copys of critcal backups off site.
Sleep Easy.